Don’t Stop The Party; It’s Political Pride Time!

The Political Pride Parade, taking place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August, will include world discussions and performances as well as a series of family-friendly activities.

All events are completely free and inclusive, and are scheduled to take place in several locations on and around the Oxford Road Corridor in Manchester.

Amelia Lee, Strategic Director ofLGBT Youth North-West, first came up with the idea of hosting an alternative Pride celebration after realising that the current provisions were not inclusive of all LGBT groups:“For young people the main Pride festival can feel quite exclusionary. It is big and impersonal, very alcohol orientated, and relies on you having money. Political Pride allows us to put something on that young people can feel included in.”

Sarah Todd, Equality and Diversity Coordinator at Manchester Metropolitan University, said that: “The event was an excellent opportunity to recognise the tremendous progress made towards LGBT equality and to take stock of the work left to do. We are delighted to be involved in the first ever Political Pride and hope to continue this partnership for many years to come.”

The weekend’s plans aim to provide a platform for participants to explore the politics of Pride, and to identify and explore some of the most important issues for the LGBT+ community today.

Activities across the weekend include banner and badge-making, a children’s story-time, and a slogan-based Bake-Off; while discussions and talks will be hosted on topics including bi-activism, marriage equality, the history and future of Pride, and the relationship between faith and sexuality.